Capping machine



H. E. TOWNSEND.

CAPPING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED Oct. 10. 1916.

1 ,407,4;48 Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

6 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- INVENTOh A TTOR/VEV 5 H. E. TOWNSEND.

CAPPING MACHINE. I APPLICATION FILED OCT- 10. 1916.

1 ,407,448, Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TTOR/VEY SITES HARRY E. TOWNSEND, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ANCHOR CAP & CLOSURE CORPORATION, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CAPPING MACHIN E.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I. HARR E. TOWNSEND, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Brooklyn in the county of Queens, State of New York,- have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Capping Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to sealing or capping machines, and more particularly to machines for positioning and afiixing caps to jars, bottles and the like.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a simple and eificient machine for applying pressure to a cap of a jar in such manneras to firmly seat and afiix the cap to the jar under a pre-determined pressure.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for -forcing the cap over the mouth of a jar or similar receptacle, by gradually applying pressure which gradually increases from zero pressure to a' pre-determined pressure.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cap applying machine which may be operated efficiently by either foot power or mechanical power,the same machine being adapted to either simply by providing the desired driving mechanism.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for affixing sealing caps, which mechanism is characterized by a reciprocatory member carrying a spring seated chuck that is adapted to be brought into contact with the cap to be sealed by a negative accelerating movement and under a pressure which increases as the speed of the movement decreases until the pressure reaches a pre-determined amount.

Other and further objects of the present invention will in part be obvious, will in part bepointed out by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification and wherein like characters are used to represent like parts throughout the several figures thereof.

Figure '1 illustrates a side'view of a footpower machine. Figure 2 is a detail front elevational view of the machine shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a detail elevational view of the back of the machine shown in Figure 1. Figure 4 is an elevationalview of a power operated machine. Figure 5 is a front view of the machine illustrated in Figure 4.. The present invention resides particularly in making a simple efficient mechanism which may be operated with rapidity to position caps over jars, bottles and the like, to form a sealed package. This machine is designed primarily to produce a uniform pressure over a cap and in such manner that the pressure may beequally and effectively applied. The plunger is constructed in such manner as to facilitate selective variation of the zone of operation of the sealing chuck by provision for both rotative and displacement adjustment, that is the chuck may be adjusted rotatively to take up any wear or other irregularity and it may be adjusted by displacement to accommodate various heights and sizes of ars.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the main frame machine comprises a vertically extending bracket 1, which is mounted on a base-board 2 and is provided at its upper end with a boss 4; in which is journaled a driving shaft 5. The driving shaft carries on its rear portion, a pulley 6 upon which are mounted two flat link chains 7 and 8. The chain is secured to the pulley by means of a stub screw 9 and the chain 8 is likewise secured by means of a stub screw 10. Chain 8 connects with a return spring 11 that is secured to a connecting link 12 which in turn is anchored to the base of the main frame as at 1 1. The chain 7 is connected to a treadle link 15 wl1ich is carried by the foottreadle or lever 16. It will be noted that a pressure on the foot-piece 17 of the foot-lever 16, will rotate the pulley 6 and the driving shaft 5, against the tension of the return spring in 11 and that as soon as the pressure is released from the foot-piece 17 the parts will be returned to normal position which is the position wherein the stop 18 rests against the stop-pin 19. A short crank arm 20 is carried on the front end of the driving shaft 5 and is connected by means of compression link 21 to an adjustable clamp 22 which carries at its front end a through-bolt or clamp bolt 24. This adjustable clamp fits the cylindrical vertical plunger 25 which is slidably mounted in the front bearing 23. Since this plunger 25 is of uniform diameter; the clamp 22 may be seated at any portion of the said plunger, thereby adjusting the relav plunger.

five height of the operative portion of the The rotative adjustment of the chuck iseffected by unscrewing the clamp bolt 24 thereby releasing the clamp 22 from the plunger 25 and thus permitting the plunger to be rotated and reclamped in any de sired position. The zone of operations of the chuck 29 is determined by the sweep of the crank arm 20, in view of the fact that by unclamping the clamp 22, the plunger 25 may be adjusted vertically. This facilitates ad justment of the zone of operations of the chuck whereby jars of various heights may be accommodated. The lower end of the plunger is bored as at 26 and carries a coiled spring 27 which rests against the upper end or-stem 28 of the chuck 29. The side walls of the plunger are slotted as at 30 and a cross-pin 31 passes through the stem 28 of the chuck and extends through and into the slots 30 whereby the chuck stem is held in position in the bore against the pressure of the coiled spring 27. hen the shaft is rotated as hereinbefore described the revo- ,lution of the crank arm 20 straightens the angle between the radius of the crank arm and the compression link 21 thereby driving the plunger 25 downwardly. This downward movement is of a negative acceleration .in character and when the chuck 29 contacts viously, the pressure delivered on the cap is predetermined by the strength of the spring provided, since in substantially all cases the pressure delivered from the foot-pedal through the connecting parts is in excess of the predetermined strength of the spring.

The construction disclosed in Figures 4 and5 is the same as the constructiton disclosed in Figures 1 and 3 with the exception of the power mechanism. In the device shown in Figures 4 and 5, the foot-power mechanism shown in Figures 1 and 3 is re placed by apower wheel 35. In this latter construction the stops, heretofore referred to, are omitted and the shaft 5 is designed to have a continuous rotation instead of a reciprocatory movement. In the case of thepower machine the vertical plunger 25 has a considerably longer stroke; that is a stroke equalto twice the radius of the crank arm 20. In both machines as illustrated the ar is adapted to be seated upon the baseboard 2 and beneath the chucks 29. In

( the power machine the larger reciprocatory machines-of this character operate with considerable rapidity, the larger clearance is a desirable factor, The arrangement of the;

spring-pressed chuck for telescopic movement within the plunger permits the utilization of substantially the entire clearance between the plunger bearing and the table, the construction permitting the movement "of the spring 27 and the stem 28 of the chuck'within the plunger bearing 23.

It is possible to embody the present invention in structures differing somewhat from the specific disclosures herein shown without departing from the real invention, therefore, I desire that the particular structures herein disclosed shall be understood as being illustrative and not be considered in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. In a machine for applying closures to vessels, the combination of a frame provided with a frontal plungerbearing and a shaft bearing disposedat substantially right-angles thereto, a plunger of uniform cross section mounted for reciprocation vertically in the plunger bearing in guiding contact therewith,a shaft mounted for rotation in the shaft bearing, means. between the shaft and the plunger whereby the latter is reciprocated upon rotation of the former, said means permitting adjustment of the plunger to diflerent zones of opera tion, a package support disposed below the plunger bearing in the line of movement of the plunger, a spring-pressed chuck mounted at the lower end of the plunger and having a portion telescopieallyseated in a part of said plunger and movable through the plunger bearing, and means for rotating the shaft to reciprocate the plunger.

2. In a machine for applying closures to vessels, the combination of "a frame, a plunger bearing on said frame, a shaft bearing on said frame extending at substantially right-angles to the plunger bearing, a plunger mounted for reciprocation vertically in the plunger bearing, a package support disposed below the plunger bearing and substantially in line with the plunger, a workengaging member disposed at the lower end of the plunger, a shaft rotatably mounted in the shaft bearing, an operative connection between said shaft and the plunger whereby the latter is given reciprocating movement upon rotation of the former, a tre'adle, means associated with said treadle and shaft for' imparting oscillatory rotation to the latter uponoperation of the former, and a stop arranged to limit the rotation of the shaft on the upward stroke of the plunger, the operative means between the shaft and the plunger including means permitting variation of the zone of operation of the plunger in dependently of the work-stroke of the treadle.

3. A cap applying device comprising a f a e, adrive shaft bearing the upper part of said frame, a drive shaft in said bearing, a plunger bearing on the front of said frame and with the axes of said bearings at right angles one to the other, a support for packages, a plunger adapted to be reciprocated in the plunger bearing, a yielding Work head on the plunger, an adjustable crank and pitman connection between the shaft and the plunger, said parts being adaptable for either manual or power drive, and driving means operatively attached to the said shaft.

4. A cap applying device comprising a frame, a drive shaft bearing in the upper part of said frame, a drive shaft in said bearing, a plunger bearing on the front of said frame, a broad flat surface comprising a support for packages directly beneath the plunger bearing, a cylindrical plunger adapted to be reciprocated in the plunger bearing, a yielding work head on the plunger, an adjustable crank and pitman con nection between the shaft and the plunger to permit both rotative and vertical adjustment of said plunger, said parts being adaptable for either manual or power drive, and driving means operatively attached to the said shaft.

HARRY E. TOWNSEND. 

